Damoh: I-T raids on multiple premises of liquor barons

Damoh (Madhya Pradesh): I-T Department early Thursday morning raided multiple premises of two liquor barons in Damoh district, sources said.

The liquor barons Shankar Rai and his brother Kamal Rai also run hotels, transport business and petrol pumps.

According to information, I-T department’s teams started searching at different premises including residential and commercials at 5AM.

Sources said that I-T both of the businessmen have political connections, therefore the I-T team didn’t initially take help from local police. But, when Kamal Rai and his family members created ruckus and obstructed I-T teams from conducting search, I-T officials sought help from local police, sources added.

Nearly 200 personnel, including I-T department staffers and policemen from Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Gwalior were carrying out searches at various premises of the businessman and his brothers Kamal Rai, Raju Rai and Sanjay Rai, according to sources.

"The operation is on at places of Shankar Rai and his brothers. The process has just started, so we have to wait for the outcome," I-T Additional Commissioner, Jabalpur circle, Munmun Sharma told reporters here.

Sharma said after the raid started, Raju Rai's wife Sadhana complained of health complications.

Sadhana was initially rushed to a local hospital from where she was referred to Jabalpur for better health care, the official said, adding that her health condition was stated to be critical.

The search was continued till filing this report.